The researchers identified a number of large intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) – a type of gene in the mammalian genome – which appear to be involved in somatic stem cell pluripotency. One lincRNA in particular was found to enhance cellular reprogramming of fibroblasts and blood cells. Researchers hope this information will lead to improved efficiency in their methods of creating induced pluripotent stem cells.

While many lincRNAs are known, most of their biological roles have yet to be discovered. This is the first demonstration of the role of specific lincRNAs in the process of somatic cellular reprogramming.